Michael Morpurgo

David Higham Associates

5-8 Lower John Street

Golden Square

London W1F 9HA

UK

This is a very good book about the First World War and the soldiers that fought in it. As it says on the front cover, it's a book of 'innocence and love, courage and cowardice'.

It is told from the point of view of Tommy Peaceful, and is very cleverly written, as he is looking back from the trenches at his life before that point. Tommy does this in the space of one night. A paragraph at the start of each chapter is about the present (what he is doing now) and the rest is Tommy remembering.

The reminiscence starts off with his first day at school. His older brother Charlie is leading him into the building. Charlie's character is very well portrayed as someone who isn't afraid of anything and as Tommy's role model. Both images starts to take shape when Charlie doesn't squeal when the teacher hits him.

Tommy meets a girl called Molly in school who is very kind and whom Tommy fancies. She starts to become a regular guest at his house, getting to like Big Joe, Tommy's disabled brother, while his mam treats her like 'the daughter she never had.' As life goes on, it is Charlie and Molly who want to marry, even though Tommy really loves her. He starts to become very jealous, especially when Molly becomes pregnant.

When the war starts, Tommy is afraid to join up at first, but finally does, along with Charlie, even though he is underage. They are sent off to France together with some old friends from home. There they encounter a horrible sergeant called 'Horrible' Hanley, who immediately has it in for Charlie and gives him a field punishment. But when Charlie refuses to go to battle because he wants to care for Tommy who is seriously ill, 'Horrible' Hanley gives Charlie the death penalty. This is the night that Tommy is remembering; the night before Charlie is due to die.

The descriptions in this book are excellent, as they portray the horrors of war so well. Here is an example: 'by the time I get there Little Les is lying on his side shot through the head, his eyes staring at me. He looks so surprised'. It brings vivid pictures into your mind. I really liked how Charlie's role-model-like character is developed, how he is loyal and brave. Another thing is the song 'Oranges and Lemons.' It is almost their special song, as Big Joe always used to hum it and whenever they were worried they would sing it together and all of their fears would go away. This is the song that Charlie sings when he is about to be shot by the firing squad. It is an overall theme that runs through the book.

Michael Morpurgo's books aren't really what I would usually pick up to read but now that I have read this novel (and also read Kensuke's Kingdom in school), I will definitely read more of his work. I really thought that this book was excellent and I would recommend it to anyone who likes a good read and I will also advise anyone who wouldn't normally read anything by Michael Morpurgo to give it a shot. brilliant book - I'm reading it in English and it gets better and better!:)

His Mother is Kippe Cammaerts English Actress born in 1917.

Father is Anthony Van Bridge they divorced afther the 2nd world war and Anthony moved to Canada with his new family and continued to be a great actor and died at 87.

Michael had a stepfather Jack Morpurgo who was in Michaels life from the age of 2. Jack is a writer.

Jane morpurgo